London’s risk from rising temperatures

Very little that had been positive. Perhaps keeping blinds closed during the day helps, especially if out and about. 
Perhaps more homes should have shutters and keep outof the midday sun, if possible. Climate change will mean we have to adopt almost Mediterranean lifestyles.

Free water fountains for refilling bottles should have wider availability and should most definitely be available in underground, overground, dlr and rail stations. WiFi should be free in London like in other cities for people who need help. 

There needs to be a legal limit set and enforced for the maximum (and minimum) temperature for a place of work, education setting, healthcare settings and public buildings. It is inhumane to expect people to work/learn etc in extreme temperatures.

There needs to be more shade enforced by Planning for both residential and commercial areas, including a strong emphasis on natural shade creation (eg tree planting on streets). This also needs to be brought in retrospectively and not just on new applications. The return to having small green spaces (“greens”) with shade-giving trees and bushes in residential areas.

And a return to free drinking water “refill stations” in public areas and enforce that any establishment which serves drinks to the public must give free water to anyone who asks, not just paying customers.

Our local green spaces and especially trees, helped make the heat tolerable,  then and now!

Like many of us, I live in a flat and have no garden. During heatwaves I would really like access to a nearby garden not too far to walk in the heat ie I wld like access to the garden that’s attached to our house - annoyingly it’s a 4-flat house but only 2 flats have access to the garden 

This summer we are doing the same in terms of keeping the house cool.

London needs to deal provide more street shading, retrofitting shades to public buildings particularly schools and hospitals, more public drinking water access, cooling public transport. Identify vulnerable populations in housing that overheats easily.

2022 was very difficult with two children under ten at home. We are lucky that our home has a shady garden and we are able to open doors and windows on both sides and get a breeze through. We tried to keep the house cool with curtains, put ice packs in freezer and opened windows late at night. We limited outdoor activity for the children and consumed cold food and drinks.

Worst though was being at work in a school. It was nigh on impossible to function properly in rooms that were in the high 30s. The school buildings were not designed to cope with temperatures being experienced. It was hard to work and for the children to concentrate. We had to cancel outdoor activities because it was not safe to carry on in the high temperatures.

I helped my elderly neighbour by getting food for her so she didn't have to go out in the heat.

I go into survival mode during the heat waves attempting to manage the internal heat and therefore my well being. Most other things are put on hold. It seems wrong that our properties appear to have so many issues and limitations. We must only build properties that will be able to mitigate against extreme heat without reliance on air conditioning and adding to the heat island effect.
 

Incentives for freeholders to make flats heatproof, eg installation of shutters and sun sails to protect balconies. 

Incentives for freeholders to install charge points for electric cars.

Incentives for freeholders to maintain adaequate green spaces / trees. 

Future housing blocks architecture to account for heatwaves, in regards of window size / cover, shutters, air circulation, insulation, outside spaces and shades, solar power, green spaces.

It's only a few weeks each year so I am not even thinking about air conditioning although a few neighbours have had it installed. We should do what many warm countries do and use fans. I recently stayed in a rental with a tower fan and it was very effective so I plan to get one. Maybe councils could make fans available to low income people.

A ceiling fan like they have in many American homes is also very effective especially at night. Maybe they will catch on here.

It is also encouraging me to think about solar panels again.

Keep drinks in the fridge and ice cubes in the freezer.

Wear sensible clothing for the weather.

Plant trees whenever you can.

Take a drink on the the underground.

Check on elderly neighbours. 

Sadiq needs to do more to tackle climate change and that means big changes in behaviour such as less car use and night time deliveries to take vans and lorries off the road during the day. In Paris SUVs have been banned from the centre. London should do the same. Sadiq should take 100 000 cars off the roads of London to encourage walking and wheeling and make the roads safer and increase use of public transport.

Its 28 degrees in my flat right now. 

We need to think about long term sustainable measures that will protect wildlife and biodiversity aswell as vulnerable humans. If we humans keep invading wildlife habitats when we get too warm, the knock on effect of biodiversity loss will impact our ability to survive too. We must protect nature in order to protect ourselves. We are all nature.

We need to think about large scale redesign and future proofing, not sticking plasters like black out blinds. 

I live in a two bed flat with floor to ceiling windows in the lounge and a balcony. I close blinds and curtains on all of my windows and keep windows closed during the day and night. I have a portable air conditioner in the lounge which keeps the temp at 24 degrees C and a silent fan in the bedroom which keeps me cool at night. Only sheets on the bed no blankets.

Plant trees, trees, trees and get rid of fake grass. Perhaps there could be a grant for digging up concrete in gardens. 

Best I can achieve is 25c inside when 30c forecast. Studio flat, top floor tower block, 1960’s with a lot of windows to footprint, flat roof, east facing. Lived here for over 10yrs and done a lot of research on the subject. My current approach: 
Fabric draped outside over all balcony windows. Can’t manage on kitchen windows due to drop. Balcony windows now don’t feel hot at all when the sun hits the cloth.
Follow the closing curtains / windows during the day, open at night (based on temperature)
Needs cooler evenings.
I can’t do anything about the flat roof. 
Property design poor not allowing a through flow breeze. 
Can’t afford to buy/ run good fans or air con and it’s a small property.
Limit generating heat through cooking etc. 

Takes effort to manage the system but worth it! 
 

Need to remove block paving and concrete from front gardens and recreate green spaces.

Parking restrictions  should be free for residents that commit to do this .

Ban plastic grass, it is an abomination!